Long and low

[mikka]

Can anyone tell me the correct way to perform a long and low exercise? If I let my horse go low then return him to contact, how is it executed? Quickly, slowly, over so many paces, at X?

[IrisSilverMoon]

Comb the reins...Go posting on a 20m circle and drag the reins slowly upward (not back) through your fingers. You should hold the riens in one hand and alternate hands as you're combing the reins. I'm not too sure how to explain how to do that without showing it, sorry...:( He'll go pretty fast in the beggining until he learns to relax and do it more with a working trot or even slower if you want, but the effect is that it tickles the horses mouth and he'll want to take the reins out of your hands, when he does this give him the reins immediately so he knows what he's doing is good and he'll be able to do it faster in the future. As soon as his head comes up start combing again eventually he'll learn that you want it down there. To take the reins back up just do it slowly and gently, tickle the inside rein a bit with your fingers and he'll lift his head. I thinkt he key with taking the horse back up is just to not haul on the reins.

Is that what you were asking for??

[mikka]

Yes, IrisSilverMoon, that's exactly what I was looking for - but when you say "comb" do you mean gently sponge? And what do you mean when you say to take both reins in one hand? I really need to learn this...thank, M.

[Lgd]

Even when long and low they should be working in a round manner into a light contact. Take care to not let them become too deep (i.e. behind the hand & leg) Similar to free walk on a long rein but in trot or canter. They need to maintain rythym and balance. To come back to a normal outline just keep the leg aids on and slowly shorten the reins until you are back to where you want to be.

[IrisSilverMoon]

well you ride with your reins in one hand basically...i'm not sure what gently sponging is but it could be the same thing...=/ i don't know. Basically you hold your reins in one hand at normal contact length and sort of drag them upward letting them slid through your fingers, you should feel contact at all times, then you take the reins in your other hand and continue dragging alternating hands as soon as one hand runs out of rein. i'm not sure how to better explain it, let me know if something is confusing and i'll see if i can clarify...:)

[mikka]

Thanks very much for the help!

IrisSM, I see what you're saying now - thanks for re-explaining it for me!

Lgd, my instructor asks me to let the reins down almost to the buckle. The horse maintains good rhythm and balance, but I'm not sure how to assess his level of contact when his nose is almost on the floor. I'm very uncoordinated with reins, giving them away too quickly and drawing them back up too sharply.
Practice, practice, practice. Just hope I don't undo all this guy's training!

[Melody]

i tried it you are pretty good at explaing thinks it worked
are there any thing else u can explan thats that easy to do